Drs. Steve Morton & Susan DeVictor
Info
Colonies of Telesto sanguinea form long stems with branching stalks, at the top of each stalk is a large, single, white polyp.
The polyps of the coral reach about 1 cm.
The colonies of Telesto sanguinea are monopodially branched and may have several branches arising from stolons.
The daughter polyps sometimes develop into tertiary branches.
Color:
The color of the coenenchyma is bright red, but may be obscured or completely encrusted by fouling organisms such as sponges and bryozoans.
Rarely, the species can also be orange, pink or yellow (Bayer 1961).
Very similar species: Telesto fruticulosa Dana, 1846
Our very special and heartfelt thanks for the permission to use all color photos from the article "Identification guide to the shallow water (0-200 m) octocorals of the South Atlantic Bight" goes to the two authors Drs. Steve Morton & Susan DeVictor, USA.
The polyps of the coral reach about 1 cm.
The colonies of Telesto sanguinea are monopodially branched and may have several branches arising from stolons.
The daughter polyps sometimes develop into tertiary branches.
Color:
The color of the coenenchyma is bright red, but may be obscured or completely encrusted by fouling organisms such as sponges and bryozoans.
Rarely, the species can also be orange, pink or yellow (Bayer 1961).
Very similar species: Telesto fruticulosa Dana, 1846
Our very special and heartfelt thanks for the permission to use all color photos from the article "Identification guide to the shallow water (0-200 m) octocorals of the South Atlantic Bight" goes to the two authors Drs. Steve Morton & Susan DeVictor, USA.
